OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Surgical management of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) during thyroidectomy is complex. We hypothesized that there exist variations in surgical behaviors patterns in the management of the EBSLN during thyroidectomy. STUDY DESIGN A prospective Web-based anonymous survey (www.surveymonkey.com). METHODS The survey, consisting of 22 questions in...

There were 79 right and 65 left nerves dissected (N=144). On the right, the mean length of the dissection was 27.72 mm and on the left 31.40 mm. (Table 1). The length of the dissection ranged from 765 mm on the right and 3-62 mm on the patients left side. The mean distance from the TE groove was 4.28 mm on the right side with a range of 1-14 mm. On the left the mean distance was 4.09 mm with a ...

BACKGROUND Various energy based surgical devices (ESD) like electrotome have been widely applied in thyroid surgery. This is the first canine model to determine the safety margin of using the electrotome near the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) to prevent injury to this nerve during thyroid surgery. METHODS Eighteen healthy male dogs were divided equally into three groups according to the dis...

OBJECTIVE To describe and determine the possibility of surgical trauma to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve and to assess the role of intraoperative neuromonitoring in thyroid surgery. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective, randomized, controlled study in a teaching Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. SUBJECTS Forty two patients of both gend...

The phonatory function of the larynx and its disturbance were discussed on the basis of the author's data of 1) electromyographical observation of the human larynx, 2) radiographical study of the larynx, 3) measurement of the mean subglottal air pressure as well as the vibratory subglottal pressure variation during phonation, and 4) analysis of vocal cord movements during phonation with high sp...

One of the most feared complications in thyroid surgery is injury to the superior laryngeal nerve or recurrent laryngeal nerve. Neural identification during surgery is insufficient to assess nerve injury. Intraoperative nerve monitoring of the vagal nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery is a new adjunct designed to allow better identification of nerves at risk and therefore...

The anatomical relationship between the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) was studied in 76 embalmed corpses, 8 females and 68 males. In both sexes, the RLN lay more frequently between branches of the ITA.; it was found in this position in 47.3% of male corpses and 42.8% of female ones. On the right, RLN was found between branches of the ITA in 49.3% of the c...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Thermal injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) may not be visually apparent and may go unrecognized intraoperatively. This study aimed to investigate the heat thermal tolerance of RLN and evaluate the electrophysiologic correlates of electromyographic (EMG) signal change during an acute RLN heat damage. STUDY DESIGN Prospective porcine model with continuous intrao...

The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is an essential nerve for phonation and psychosocial interaction. Throughout the annals oflaryngological history, vocal cord paralysis has been a well recognised disorder. A rich heritage of scientific investigation and research has considered the complexity of vocal cord function, laryngoscopic presentation and surgical rehabilitation. Identification and pre...

Total thyroidectomy was performed in a 53-year-old male, with Graves-Basedow's disease. At surgery, the vagus nerve was found to be located medially to the carotid artery associated with a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve arising directly from the cervical vagus: this association has never been described in the literature. These results indicate that a medial location of the vagus nerve may be con...